Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique vs Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Club Med vs Velas Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 373 | 539 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 8 |
| Pools | 3 | 4 |
| Year Opened | 1964 | 2008 |
| Year Renovated | 2020 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 5 | 15 |
| Included | 5 | 15 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 17 | 11 |
| Suite Categories | 2 | 11 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 24 | 23 |
| Included | 16 | 17 |
| Extra Charge | 8 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique
Pros
- Fresh Atlantic oysters and locally-sourced seafood at the buffet are a genuine regional differentiator — not common in Club Med's dining program elsewhere.
- The 26-hectare pine forest setting is architecturally unique among Club Med's European properties and provides natural noise buffering.
- The Golf Lodge family rooms offer meaningful space for families that the standard room categories at many Club Med resorts can't match.
Cons
- Non-French speaking guests will encounter a language barrier — the clientele and staff communication skew heavily French, Belgian, and Dutch.
- Some Dunes section rooms are small by current hospitality standards — families expecting generous room footprints should book Golf Lodges or Marina Deluxe specifically.
- Atlantic wave conditions make the beach unsuitable for swimming on some days — a practical constraint compared to protected Caribbean or Mediterranean beaches.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Pros
- Cocina de Autor is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to earn both a MICHELIN star and AAA Five Diamond — included in the rate
- SE Spa with Forbes Five Stars, 90,000+ square feet, and 40+ treatment suites is one of the largest and most awarded resort spas in Mexico
- Three distinct ambiances mean guests in Zen Grand have a completely different resort experience from guests in Grand Class — useful for multi-room group bookings
- Tulum ruins are 15 minutes away and cenote tours are easy half-day excursions from this location
Cons
- Zen Grand suites are three-quarters of a mile from the beach — the shuttle runs frequently but beach access requires active planning
- Cocina de Autor and Piaf book up as far as 6 months in advance in peak season — call before arrival rather than assuming on-arrival booking
- Premium pricing at the top of the Riviera Maya all-inclusive market — the quality justifies it but the commitment is real
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more restaurants, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more dining venues, while Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique offers more activities.